Azaranica is a non-biased news aggregator on Hazaras and Hazarajat...The main aim is to promote understanding and respect for cultural identities by highlighting the realities they are facing on daily basis...Hazaras have been the victim of active persecution and discrimination and one of the reasons among many has been the lack of information, awareness and disinformation...... To further awareness against violence, disinformation and discrimination, we have launched a sister Blog for youths and youths are encouraged to share their stories and opinions; Young Pens

Did you know that women weren’t allowed to be park rangers in the United Statesuntil 1969? And it wasn’t until 1978 when women in the National Park Service were allowed to wear a service badge or the “male” uniform. Employment opportunities for women in America have come a long way since then, and now a national park in Afghanistan is taking steps to do the same. Band-e Amir National Park recently hired four women—Sediqa, Nikbakht, Fatima and Kubra, all of whom were formerly housewives—to become their first female park rangers. They joined a staff of 23 rangers at the park, which was established in 2009 and is known for its beautiful blue lakes and rare wildlife.... Continue Reading...

Monday, November 4, 2013

KARACHI: At least four Shia Muslims, including two doctors, were gunned down Monday and three others were injured in different parts of Karachi, police officials said.

A doctor was shot dead in Manghopir neighbourhood in the western district and another was gunned down around noon at Tariq Road in the eastern part of the city.

They were identified by police as Dr Sher Ali * and Dr Naseem Zaidi.

“The killing pattern shows that they were apparently carried out on sectarian grounds,” Javed Alam Odho, the deputy inspector general of police told AFP.

The other two victims were killed in central district when unknown attackers burst into a tailor's shop and opened fire.

The owner and a worker were killed and three others were injured.

“The attack seemed to be on sectarian lines as all of the people inside the shop were Shias,” senior police officer Aamir Farooqi said.

The latest attacks came ahead of the beginning of the Muslim holy month of Muharram, when Shias mourn the seventh century martyrdom of Hussain, the grandson of prophet Mohammad, along with his family members.

Shias make up around a fifth of Pakistan's predominantly Sunni Muslim population.

Police are already carrying out operations against criminal groups to curb sectarian and political killings. Security would be further tightened in the month of Muharram, they said.

“We are already carrying out the operation against sectarian and other elements and we would certainly intensify our efforts during the coming days,”Odho said.

Karachi, a city of 18 million people which contributes 42 per cent of Pakistan's GDP, is rife with murder and kidnappings and has been plagued for years by ethnic, sectarian and political violence

* Dr. Sher Ali : Dr, Sher Ali was secretary general of Hazara Mughal Yekjehti Forum, an organisation representing Hazara diaspora in Karachi. Only few months ago, son of the president of this forum also became victim of the ongoing onslaught of Shias in the city. Dr. Sher was the second general secretary of this organisation shot dead by the militant outfits after Qurban Ali Ajiz.

Sunday, November 3, 2013

QUETTA: At lest two people were injured when a blast occurred at a vacant house located near the Eastern Bypass on Sunday.
However, police didn’t confirm any casualty but said that roofs of six rooms collapsed after the blast took place at the house.
Independent sources said that two people sustained injuries but they were not admitted to any government-run medical facility.
Police rushed to the spot and called in the Bomb Disposal Squad. According to reports, the police have arrested two men including a teenager near the site of the blast.
A bicycle was also damaged in the explosion, which officials say was used for planting the explosive material.
Acting Civil Defence Director Mehboob Shahwani said that 20 kg explosives exploded inside the house. He said that, three bags of suspected bomb-making chemical, four receivers of remote control, six batteries and two kg explosives were also recovered from the house.
According to initial examination, investigators have found blood spots in the courtyard and on the door of the house.
Investigators said that preliminary probe suggested the house was being used for preparation of terrorist-related activity.

The coal miners were returning from a trip to Mach bazaar, where they often went to shop on Fridays. The crime scene is seven kilometer off the main highway.

“As they crossed a huge drainage off the national highway, a group of armed men opened fire at their vehicle,” added DC Shah.

Levies officials and security forces reached the spot soon after the incident and cordoned off the area. However, the assailants had already escaped by then. The injured is said to be in a critical condition.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility. Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, a militant group officially banned by the government in 2002, usually claims responsibility for attacks on Shia Muslims.

Upon observing a car suspiciously parked near the highway, FC personnel stopped the buses from proceeding on the National Highway in the Dringar area of Mastung. As they tried to search the vehicle, a explosion took place.